Wexford Roads Budget Cut by €279,000

The Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Malcolm Byrne, has slammed the decision of Environment and Local Government Minister, Alan Kelly, to cut non-national roads funding to Co. Wexford by €279,000.

The non-national roads budget for all local authorities has been cut in figures sent by the Department of the Environment and Local Government to Councils.  In the case of Co. Wexford, we have estimated it to be about €279,000. Last year, local authorities in Co. Wexford spent €10,125,200 on roads and footpaths. The allocation this year is €9,846,240. That is a cut of €278,960.

This will mean that a number of road and footpath repairs planned for this year will not happen.

Wexford County Council agreed a budget for 2015 on the expectation that the roads allocation from the Department would be the same as in 2014. The Council agreed the budget unanimously, the only Council in the country to so do.

Malcolm said,

"What is really annoying is that, as you will recall, the Government had given commitments around the Local Property Tax that this tax would underpin the funding of non national roads. The LPT has now been introduced and the resources available for local government have actually been cut further. "
"I'd like to challenge Minister Alan Kelly on his commitment to local government after this move. It has serious repercussions for local communities where road works were planned this year."

Malcolm Byrne

Cathaoirleach Wexford   County Council    086 22 37 102